Transcript Early Literacy—0 to 5

In the Lap of Literacy
Presented by Kaye Price-Hawkins,
Priceless Literacy-Abilene, TX
www.pricelessliteracy.homestead.com
Why is early literacy important?
According to a survey of kindergarten
teachers conducted in Fall 2006 by the
Oregon Department of Education, 19.4%
of children in Multnomah County
entered kindergarten "not ready to
succeed," in large part because they
lack the necessary language and prereading skills.
Why Focus on this Age Group?
• Early childhood development is unique:
physically (motor skills), emotionally
(regulation and attachment), mentally
(language skills and problem-solving),
and socially (appropriate behavior with
others).
• The human brain achieves approximately
85% of its adult size by age 2 ½ years,
and 90% of total growth by age 3.
Human
Brain
at Birth
6 Years
Old
14 Years
Old
Statistics:
• Maryanne Wolf (2007) in her book Proust
and the Squid: The Story and Science of
the Reading Brain notes that “by
kindergarten, a gap of 32 million words
already separates some children in
linguistically impoverished homes from
their more stimulated peers.”
• By the 6th grade, they are already 3 grade
levels behind their average-performing
peers.
Two Most Important Qualities:
Patience
and
Wisdom
Developmental Process:
• Early literacy development
• The first three years:
–
–
–
–
–
exploring and playing with books
singing nursery rhymes
listening to stories
recognizing words
scribbling.
Encourage
Parents to:
*Read aloud
*Tell stories
*Listen to child
retell stories
*Sing songs
*Play games
*Give directions
*Write words that
child says about
drawings
Increase ways you interact
verbally with your toddler:
• Play make-believe -- Talk while you play, and
encourage your toddler to talk back.
• Silly rhymes, "The bed is on her head.”
• Nonsense words, "It's time to skidaddle to
your mat for a nap."
• Add new verses to songs: "...and on his farm
he had a pickle..."
• Ask silly questions children answer: "No"--.
After reading, allow children to
experience nature and point out what
they read and talked about while at
daycare. Take a picture and send to
Mommy and Daddy.
Story Time—part of a child’s
literacy development:
• Special time: part of routine.
• Read favorite books-over and
over
• Read what and when the
toddler asks you to.
Story Time, continued…
• If you can't
stop what you
are doing…
• Child may draw
his or her
favorite part of
the story.
This 3-year-old
is writing a story
about rocks
because that’s
what he has
been reading
about with his
caregiver.
“Look at this!”
Reading Aloud
• Books that allow them to do
something and may wear out.
• Books with repeated words,
rhymes, and phrases.
• Ask questions about the pictures:
"Who's that?" "Where do you
think he's going?" "What do cows
say?"
Reading Aloud, continued
• Connect to real-life experiences.
• Discuss illustrations: “Where’s the
…?” “What sound does … make?”
• Have several books illustrated by the
same artist, such as, Eric Carle.
Reading Aloud, continued…
POINT OUT AND NAME:
• Text features
• Objects within the illustrations
• Clarify incorrect identifications
• Model good reading habits—read
with excitement and fluency
Reading On Their Own…
• When the toddler looks at books
alone…
– Help toddlers learn to care for books
– Ask your toddler to help fix damaged
books
Preschoolers learn about reading
when looking at books by themselves
and seeing adults reading.
• Children love to imitate adults. A child
who sees you enjoying a book or
magazine will want to do the same.
• Show your child how you use books,
newspapers, and other written
materials to find out information…
3-year-Old
Reads the
Newspaper
at
Starbucks
Set up a reading shelf, basket, corner
with books for independent reading.
Books to Choose for Reading Time…
1. Pattern books
• ABC books about many topics
• Repeated phrasing (Brown Bear,
Brown Bear…)
• Contrast (Meanwhile.. or That’s
Good, That’s Bad)
2. Rhyming books
Books to Choose for Reading Time,
continued…
3. Books about feelings
4. Books about relationships
(friends and family)
5. Books about other cultures
6. Character-building books
Books to Choose for Reading Time…
continued…
7. Informational books (Non-fiction)
8. Books about colors, numbers, and
words
9. Books about Reading and Writing
10. Fairy tales, Proverbs, and Mother
Goose stories
Military Sharing Tools of
Literacy in Middle East
Readiness equation:
Ready families
+ Ready communities
+ Ready services
+ Ready daycares and schools
= Children Ready for a
Lifetime of Learning